Report - Huddersfield Town 3-0 Wycombe Wanderers

Alan Lee struck twice and a Gary Roberts free-kick gave Town a satisfactory win over newly-promoted Wycombe Wanderers at the Galpharm Stadium.

Wycombe using a 4-5-1 formation, came with a game plan of sitting men behind the ball which worked for nearly an hour as Town struggled to break down an organized Wanderers side but it was the introduction of substitutes Alan Lee and Gary Roberts that turned the game on its head.

Town were forced to make a change to the side that lost 5-3 to Cardiff City in midweek, captain Peter Clarke was out with a back injury and was replaced by Antony Kay who was also given the captain's armband. Otherwise it was the same formation and line-up from the Carling Cup game at Cardiff.

The first half wasn't for the neutrals. Wycombe made it hard for Town to get into their passing, attacking rhythm with every red shirt behind the ball as Town tried to go forward.

Chances in the first 45 were few and far between. Stuart Lewis' long-range effort flew well wide and a Ben Strevens header failed to test Ian Bennett in the Town goal whilst at the other end Jordan Rhodes fired wide after good work from Anton Robinson.

Scott Donnelly fired a 25-yard strike straight at Bennett and a Wycombe free-kick saw Strevens' flicked header fly straight into the hands of the Town stopper.

A good run from Danny Ward resulted in the former Bolton man firing straight across goal which was knocked out for a corner by a Wycombe defender and from the resulting corner Rhodes should have done better as his headed effort flew over the bar.

Town were having most of the possession and passed the ball well but were failing to break down a strong, organized Wycombe side that parked the bus. The visitors lacked any real attacking threat and it looked as though winger Joel Grant would only be the one causing Town any problems with his pace whilst it looked as though Jack Hunt had an easy day against the veteran Gareth Ainsworth.

The second half started the game as same the first but when Lee Clark threw on subs Gary Roberts and Alan Lee for Donal McDermott and Lee Novak with 55 minutes gone and the game turned on its head.

Within 40 seconds of being on the pitch Alan Lee's looping header from Gary Naysmith's left wing cross looped over the flapping Wycombe keeper Nikki Bull and into the net as the former Crystal Palace striker scored his first league goal in Town colours. His mad celebration showed how much it meant to the Irishman.

With Town taking the lead Wycombe switched to a 4-4-2 formation by throwing on striker Elliot Benyon for winger Scott Donnelly, who had been booked for a foul on Roberts and minutes later Kevin Betsy, who often scored past Town in the past, replaced Gareth Ainsworth.

The introduction of Alan Lee and Gary Roberts changed the game and when Lee put Town in front they started playing with more confidence and The Terriers doubled their lead with 70 minutes gone with Lee scoring his second of the match.
A smart one-two between Tommy Miller and Jack Hunt saw the latter providing a superb cross into the Wycombe box where Lee powered in a header from 12 yards.

With eight minutes remaining Rhodes was brought down on the edge of the area by Leon Johnson. Gary Roberts took the free-kick and smartly curled an effort through a crowded penalty area and into the bottom corner of the net to record a satisfying victory for The Terriers.

The unbeaten run stretches on to 30 matches now and it is the first time Town have won back-to-back victories at the Galpharm since October last year.

Sean's Star Man - Alan Lee
The big striker took his goals well and his second goal proves that if you get the ball to him in the right areas he will score. Has had a lot of stick since being at the club and hasn't had a lot of game time but to be fair to the Irishman he's stuck at it, worked hard and been rewarded with two goals against Wycombe. This will no doubt give manager Lee Clark food for thought next week when we face a physical Oldham Athletic side next week at Boundary Park (with Northampton in the JPT before that on Tuesday night).